Pet waste cartridge

Abstract

A waste cartridge in combination with a waste machine or apparatus that maintains waste pads for a pet owner, automatically or manually by removing and sealing soiled pads and waste and then replacing the soiled pad with a clean pad on a pet bed of the machine. The apparatus senses when a pet is using a waste pad portion and when the pet is finished, the machine takes up the soiled portion of the pad and removes and seals the soiled portion of the pad roll and the waste automatically, moving the pad into a repository for later removal and disposal of the waste cartridge when the pad roll is used up and then replacing removed pad with a new waste cartridge. The waste cartridge is comprised of a pad roll and a take-up rod attached to one end of the pad by any means such as a clip, slot or adhesive on the take-up rod. A pair of end caps on opposing ends of the take-up rod that includes a gear for attachment to a removable drive module may also be included or left off if the rod or core is directly connected to the drive module.

Having thus described the invention, we claim: 
     
       1. A removable pet waste cartridge comprising:
 a waste pad roll of a predetermined diameter, width and length comprising an absorbent first side and a non-permeable second side; 
 wherein the waste pad roll comprises a series of sensor-readable marks indicative of an amount of waste paper remaining on the waste pad roll, the series of sensor-readable marks located on the non-permeable second side of the waste pad roll; 
 a take-up rod, wherein the take-up rod is connected to a first end of the waste pad roll; and 
 wherein a first end cap is mounted at a first end of the take-up rod and a second end cap is mounted at a second end of the take-up rod, wherein further the first end cap and the second end cap seal a completely wound waste pad roll. 
 
     
     
       2. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the first end cap comprises a gear, the gear being integral with the first end cap. 
     
     
       3. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the take-up rod is connected to a first end of the waste pad roll by clips, the clips located at the first end and the second end of the take-up rod. 
     
     
       4. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the take-up rod is connected to a first end of the waste pad roll by pins, the pins spaced apart along a length of the take-up rod corresponding to holes at the first end of the waste pad roll. 
     
     
       5. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited  claim 1 , wherein the take-up rod, the first end cap, the second end cap, and the waste pad roll are disposable. 
     
     
       6. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the take-up rod is connected to a first end of the waste pad roll by adhesive, the adhesive applied along a length of the take-up rod. 
     
     
       7. The removable pet waste cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the absorbent first side and the non-permeable second side of the waste pad roll are formed as a laminate sheet configured to receive liquid and solid waste. 
     
     
       8. The removable pet waste cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor-readable marks are printed on the non-permeable second side of the waste pad roll. 
     
     
       9. The removable pet waste cartridge of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor-readable marks are either visible or invisible on the non-permeable second side of the waste pad roll. 
     
     
       10. The removable pet waste cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor-readable marks are either visible or invisible on the non-permeable second side of the waste pad roll. 
     
     
       11. The removable pet waste cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor-readable marks are absorptive or reflective to infrared light, UV light or other light spectrums. 
     
     
       12. The removable pet waste cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor-readable marks are printed at predetermined spaced intervals or at variably spaced intervals along a length of the non-permeable second side of the waste pad roll. 
     
     
       13. The removable pet waste cartridge of  claim 7 , further comprising holes or notches in the waste pad roll. 
     
     
       14. The removable pet waste cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the waste pad roll further comprises an absorptive non-woven spun bond on the absorbent first side for tear resistance, an absorbent polymer affixed between the absorbent first side and the non-permeable second side, and a plastic non-absorbent on the non-permeable second side for leak protection from the liquid and solid waste. 
     
     
       15. The removable pet waste cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the waste pad includes a multilayer construction, and wherein the multilayer construction alternates absorbent and non-permeable layers. 
     
     
       16. The removable pet waste cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the waste pad includes an airlaid paper top layer for allowing the removal of other layers. 
     
     
       17. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the series of sensor-readable marks are printed along an edge of the non-permeable second side of the waste pad roll, wherein further the series of sensor-readable marks provide information about a position of the waste pad roll on a pet waste machine. 
     
     
       18. A pet waste machine comprising the removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a supply assembly, a take-up assembly, and a flat bed;
 wherein a second end of the waste pad roll is placed in the supply assembly; 
 the take-up rod is placed in the take-up assembly; and 
 the waste pad roll is stretched across the flat bed. 
 
     
     
       19. A removable pet waste cartridge, comprising:
 a waste pad roll of a predetermined diameter, width and length, comprising an absorbent first side and a non-permeable second side; 
 wherein the waste pad roll comprises a series of sensor-readable marks indicative of an amount of waste paper remaining on the waste pad roll, the series of sensor-readable marks located on the non-permeable second side; 
 a take-up rod connected to a first end of the waste pad roll; 
 a first end cap mounted at a first end of the take-up rod and a second end cap mounted at a second end of the take-up rod, wherein the first end cap and the second end cap seal a completely wound waste pad roll; and 
 the first end cap comprising a gear, wherein the gear is integral with the first end cap. 
 
     
     
       20. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the take-up rod comprises clips, pins, or an adhesive; and the take-up rod is connected to the first end of the waste pad roll by the clips, pins, or adhesive. 
     
     
       21. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the clips are located at the first end and the second end of the take-up rod. 
     
     
       22. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the pins are spaced apart along a length of the take-up rod corresponding to holes at the first end of the waste pad roll. 
     
     
       23. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 20 , wherein the adhesive is applied along a length of the take-up rod. 
     
     
       24. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the take-up rod, the gear, the first end cap, the second end cap, and the waste pad roll are disposable. 
     
     
       25. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the series of sensor readable marks are printed along an edge of the non-permeable second side of the waste pad roll, wherein further the series of sensor-readable marks indicate a position of the waste pad roll on a pet waste machine. 
     
     
       26. A pet waste machine comprising the removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a supply assembly, a take-up assembly, a flat bed, and a drive gear;
 wherein a second end of the waste pad roll is placed in the supply assembly; 
 the take-up rod is placed in the take-up assembly; 
 the waste pad roll is stretched across the flat bed; and 
 the drive gear meshes with the gear integral with the first end cap. 
 
     
     
       27. A removable pet waste cartridge, comprising:
 a waste pad roll of a predetermined diameter, width and length, comprising an absorbent first side and a non-permeable second side, wherein the waste pad roll further comprises a series of printed sensor-readable marks capable of being read by a sensor; 
 the series of sensor-readable marks located along an edge of the non-permeable second side; 
 the series of sensor-readable marks indicate a position of the waste pad roll on a pet waste machine; and 
 a take-up rod comprising clips, pins, or an adhesive, wherein the take-up rod has a first end and a second end, wherein further the take-up rod is connected to a first end of the waste pad roll by the clips, pins, or adhesive; 
 wherein a first end cap is mounted at a first end of the take-up rod and a second end cap is mounted at a second end of the take-up rod, wherein further the first end cap and the second end cap seal a completely wound waste pad roll. 
 
     
     
       28. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the clips are located at the first end and the second end of the take-up rod. 
     
     
       29. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the pins are spaced apart along a length of the take-up rod corresponding to holes at the first end of the waste pad roll. 
     
     
       30. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the adhesive is applied along a length of the take-up rod. 
     
     
       31. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 27 , wherein the take-up rod, the first end cap, the second end cap, and the waste pad roll are disposable. 
     
     
       32. A pet waste machine comprising the removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 27 , further comprising a supply assembly, a take-up assembly, a flat bed, and a drive gear;
 wherein a second end of the waste pad roll is placed in the supply assembly; 
 the take-up rod is placed in the take-up assembly; and 
 the waste pad roll is stretched across the flat bed. 
 
     
     
       33. The pet waste machine as recited in  claim 32 , wherein:
 the first end cap comprises a gear, and wherein the first end cap is integral with the gear; and 
 the drive gear meshes with the gear integral with the first end cap. 
 
     
     
       34. A removable pet waste cartridge, comprising:
 a waste pad roll of a predetermined diameter, width and length, comprising an absorbent first side and a non-permeable second side, wherein the waste pad roll further comprises a series of printed sensor-readable marks, wherein further the waste pad roll is flat on the absorbent first side and the non-permeable second side; 
 the series of sensor-readable marks located along an edge of the non-permeable second side; 
 the series of sensor-readable marks indicate a position of the waste pad roll on a pet waste machine; 
 a take-up rod comprising clips, pins, or an adhesive, wherein the take-up rod is connected to a first end of the waste pad roll by the clips, pins, or adhesive; 
 a first end cap mounted at a first end of the take-up rod and a second end cap mounted at a second end of the take-up rod, wherein the first end cap and the second end cap seal a completely wound waste pad roll; and 
 the first end cap comprising a gear, wherein the first end cap is integral with the gear. 
 
     
     
       35. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 34 , wherein the clips are located at the first end and the second end of the take-up rod. 
     
     
       36. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 34 , wherein the pins are spaced apart along a length of the take-up rod corresponding to holes at the first end of the waste pad roll. 
     
     
       37. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 34 , wherein the adhesive is applied along a length of the take-up rod. 
     
     
       38. The removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 34 , wherein the take-up rod, the first end cap, the second end cap, and the waste pad roll are disposable. 
     
     
       39. A pet waste machine comprising the removable pet waste cartridge as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising a supply assembly, a take-up assembly, a flat bed, and a drive gear;
 wherein a second end of the waste pad roll is placed in the supply assembly; 
 the take-up rod is placed in the take-up assembly; 
 the waste pad roll is stretched across the flat bed; and 
 the drive gear meshes with the gear integral with the first end cap.